THE number of the Brethren who have expressed opposition
to the Vow as already stated is small, but they
have ability and influence. The virulence of their
opposition has amazed us. Never have we been more deeply
stabbed and "wounded in the house of our friends"--by some
whom we still esteem and love as dear brethren and who still
declare their love for us.

One writes (A) that he perceives that the Editor has "a
lying, evil spirit," because in the September 15th TOWER we
said that the few brethren who had expressed to us their opposition
to the Vow were all married men, while he thinks
that one unmarried man wrote in opposition to the Vow. Our
reply is, that we do not recall the letter; possibly it was
couched in such terms that we did not consider it as OPPOSITION
TO THE VOW, but merely a declaration of why the writer
thought best not to make the Vow his own. But in any event,
suppose this brother were wholly right and we wholly in error,
suppose we thus demonstrated that our memory is not infallible,
would that prove that the Editor is obsessed of a lying
devil? Are all people of defective memory possessed by lying
devils? We never so thought, nor do we now. This brother
objects, too, that the same article urges "If in your judgment
no 'evil day,' no 'hour of temptation,' no 'strange work,' no
'strong delusion' is impending, you should be wise enough and
kind enough not to oppose those who do so believe and who
are getting ready for the same." This statement, he insists,
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is a further evidence that we have "a lying, evil spirit." He
intimates that he does believe that serious trouble is impending.
Alas! that our poor brains should become so confused.
Let us take an illustration. Suppose a crowd of people on
and close to a railroad track, and that some realized and
others did not, that an express train was almost due. Suppose
that one hearing the whistle and realizing the danger
urged all to clear the track, and to go no closer than five
feet to be out of danger. Suppose another like (A) took
offense at the announcement and claimed that it should not
have been made. Surely the one giving the alarm would be
justified in adopting our very words, "If in your judgment no
train is approaching and there is no danger at hand justifying
our warning and advice, you should be wise enough and
kind enough not to hinder those who do so believe and who
are striving to get out of danger."

Another dear brother (B), denouncing the Vow, tells us
that he knows that it is of the devil, etc. He then tells us
that he knows he is all right, is one of the elect soon to judge
the world, and that he is conscious of the Lord's favor and
blessing upon him now. Finally, he threatens us that if we
do not recant and contradict what we have already set forth
on the Vow subject, he will do terrible things and teach us
a lesson we will never forget.

We thanked the dear brother and expressed confidence
in his conscientiousness, but declined to allow him to control
either our conscience or the columns of the WATCH TOWER.
We pointed out to him his boastful spirit and that he was
attempting to judge us before the time, and without showing
us any authority from God why we should accept his view
of matters as God's view, and set aside our own convictions.
We reminded him that he was derogating to himself the fourfold
office of accuser, judge, jury and executioner, and
that he would best go slowly lest lack of humility and lack of
brotherly love should ultimately bar him from any share with
those to whom the Lord will say, "Well done good and faithful
servant, enter thou into the joys of thy Lord."

We do not say that these brethren have ceased to believe
with us, nor that they do not grasp the situation fully,
though the latter seems the more generous explanation of
their course. If this is not the true explanation of their opposition,
pray what is? What feature of the Vow itself can
they oppose?

Another (C) bitterly denounces not only the Vow but
other things which do not please him in the conduct of the
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Harvest Work. He intimates that the vials of his wrath will
be poured upon us speedily if we do not quickly move the
reverse lever. Some of these dear friends appear to be perfectly
willing that the nominal control of the WATCH TOWER and
the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society should remain in
the hands to which the Lord entrusted it, provided, Brother
Russell will hearken to and follow the voice of the Lord
through them; others would evidently prefer that the Harvest
Work be blown to atoms that they might become more prominent.
As a sample of this critical, bombastic, self-righteous
and domineering spirit, we quote the closing words of C's
letter; (Italics are ours):--"Unless steps are taken to correct
this evil I shall pray for the overthrow of the arrangement,
that it may come into judgment; but at present I will pray
that you may be able to see the matter in its true light, and
I am assured that the prayer of a righteous man availeth
much, and the Apostle cites the prayer of Elias, to show how
the Lord hears our petitions. With much Christian love, etc."

Thus our Lord's words are fulfilled in us over and over
again from every quarter, "They shall say all manner of evil
against you falsely for my sake." And as the Master was
called Beelzebub we are said to have a "lying, evil spirit."
We tremble not at the threat that we shall be prayed against
as above, with its intimation that the Lord has been neglecting
the Harvest Work, waiting for this dear brother to give
the intimation as to what must be done. We fear none of
these fears. We weep not for ourself; our sorrow is for these
poor, deluded brethren. We perceive that they are being
weighed by the Lord. We fear that they will be found wanting
in brotherly love--the one important test of membership
in the Body of Christ--the requirement of the one commandment
which the Lord gave to his people.--John 13:34; 15:12.

Yes, we may well fear for these, and pray for them.
We ask all who claim membership in the Anointed to join
petitions with ours that these dear ones may be recovered
from their present blindness.

The Apostles James and John, indignant at the refusal
of the people of Samaria to sell food to our Lord and his disciples,
asked our Master, "Lord, wilt thou that we command
fire from heaven to consume these men and their city?" Our
Lord replied, "Ye know not what spirit ye are of."

So now we say to the few dear brethren so deeply exercised
concerning the Vow, "Ye know not what spirit ye are of."
You have been confused. At heart you surely do not mean
all that you are hinting, saying, threatening and doing. We
judge you not, condemn you not; but we do ask you to judge
yourselves. Are you exercising the spirit of love which you
assured us is your real heart sentiment? "By their fruits ye
shall know them," said our Master. Let us each look after
the fruitage of his own heart and life. "God is not mocked."
Anger, malice, envy, hatred, strife, are works (fruits) of the
flesh and of the devil.

IS THE VOW EXTREME?

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We hold that the Vow is not extreme in view of the condition
of things which our understanding of God's Word leads
us to expect as "nigh, even at the door." We remind you of
the Apostle Paul's declaration of his willingness to take a
Vow, "to eat no meat while the world standeth," if such a
course should seem to him expedient, in the interest of
weaker brethren. The Vow which we advocate as now very
expedient is far less exacting than the one the Apostle declared
would be proper if expedient. But taking it, let us
keep it in letter and in spirit. "Vow and pay unto the Lord
your God."--Psa. 76:11.

Someone opposing the Vow suggests that those who take
the Vow are so bound by it that should they through sickness
or for other reasons forget or neglect to daily remember in
prayer the Harvest Work, etc., it would be an unpardonablesin. We will not call in question the sincerity of those who
thus pervert the truth in their attempt to hinder others; we
will suppose that they spoke out of the abundance of their
ignorance.

As above set forth the Vow is a solemn engagement
which should not be broken. So is our Baptismal Vow, our
Consecration Vow--to be dead to the world and self and sin.
Suppose that having Vowed to the Lord to walk in the footsteps
of Jesus in the narrow way, and that at some unguarded
moment you side-stepped--what then? Were you doomed
therefore to the Second Death?

Oh no! for just such errors we pray, "Forgive us our
trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us." "If
any man [in Christ] sin we have an Advocate with the
Father, Jesus Christ the righteous." "The blood of Jesus
Christ cleanseth us from all sin." "Let us come boldly to
the throne of the heavenly grace that we may obtain mercy
and find grace to help in every time of need."

As already elsewhere pointed out a wilful, deliberate
violation of a Vow would bring the full sin penalty. A mixed
sin, partially wilful, would be partly forgivable and partly
subject to stripes or punishment. A wholly unintentional sin
would be wholly forgiven upon request. We repeat, therefore,
our exhortation, that the Vow be taken by all of God's
consecrated children; but not without careful examination
and in full determination.